Why? Have you ever trained a doubleheader? Standardbreds were bred for years to go multiple heats. It's part of the sport. Big purses for single dashes have changed the way we breed and not for the better. Today's standardbred has more speed and far less stamina. If you think it's a shame to race that animal twice, you may be correct. I think the answer is to make more of our big purse races multiple heats and force the breeders and trainers to adjust.

The roots of the sport are at the fair level and we're killing that. We've lost Springfield, Indianapolis, and DuQuoin. If our goal is to be some sideshow to a casino, we're definitely on the right track.

you guys cany see the trees for the forest....i bet if ol ray would have won the first heat he there would be no problem coming back for the second...but after the first heat loss he now has to win 2 more and that means going 3 heats (and even a hard ass like myself doesnt want to do that) to win....and the bc only 2 weeks away!!!!

you guys cany see the trees for the forest....i bet if ol ray would have won the first heat he there would be no problem coming back for the second...but after the first heat loss he now has to win 2 more and that means going 3 heats (and even a hard ass like myself doesnt want to do that) to win....and the bc only 2 weeks away!!!!

I think it's you and Ray Schnittker who are failing to see the big picture. The industry where he makes a living is on life support.

This may be hard for some people to hear, but if you think we have a great gambling game and can get by on that in the world of casinos and online football props, you're kidding yourself.

We've tried for years to market harness racing as a gambling option. That's a failure. It needs to be marketed as the great SPORT it is. The gambling is just a bonus. What real gambler is going to bet into a $500 pool at the Red Mile anyway?

That means we have to look at what makes the SPORT great and how to promote it. I can remember the program at Sportsman's Park was called The Sportsman's Daily News and it really was like a newspaper. There were stories on the big races of the night and then an interesting feature that had great human or horse interest. Now you've got Tom Kelley's "Five for Five". Who is that even targeted at? You have to make the fan first and then the fan will gamble. Trying to entice the gambler is a losing game and that's been proven.

It used to be that in order to qualify for the State Fair final at Springfield, a horse had to race at one of the county fairs. Doing away with that requirement was a disaster. People loved seeing "a big horse from Chicago" roll into their fair and crushing a field with NO BETTING. But they might come up to the city and make a night of it and bet at Maywood or Sportsman's. Harness racing hasn't made any new fans in twenty-five years and the ones it has are slowly dying.

But by all means, worry about one of the four remaining heat races and how put out you are by not having a perfect Breeder's Crown prep conveniently located for your dumb ass.

It used to be that in order to qualify for the State Fair final at Springfield, a horse had to race at one of the county fairs. Doing away with that requirement was a disaster. People loved seeing "a big horse from Chicago" roll into their fair and crushing a field with NO BETTING. But they might come up to the city and make a night of it and bet at Maywood or Sportsman's. Harness racing hasn't made any new fans in twenty-five years and the ones it has are slowly dying.

The reason why they discontinued the requirement that a horse race at a county fair to be eligible was because it was too damn inconvenient for the big shot owner or the Hall of Famer trainer to take his gallant champion down to race on a third of a mile bullring in Pana or Jerseyville. Just like Ray Schnittker, they were only concerned about themselves and their own convenience and pocketbooks. And now where are all those big shot owners? Not in the game at all anymore. What about the Hall of Fame trainers? They're in Chester, PA sucking on the teet of slots money. And the few that have remained? On their knees in an unholy alliance with Dick Duchossois and Johnny Johnston to beg the state for slot machines. And how about all of the gallant champions themselves? They're worth about 2/3 as much as they once were. Be careful what you wish for fellas, you just might get it.

I'm not sure why I'm responding to someone who types like he just graduated first grade, but I'll give you the "big picture" in case there are some thoughtful people here who don't understand it.

The reason why they discontinued the requirement that a horse race at a county fair to be eligible was because it was too damn inconvenient for the big shot owner or the Hall of Famer trainer to take his gallant champion down to race on a third of a mile bullring in Pana or Jerseyville. Just like Ray Schnittker, they were only concerned about themselves and their own convenience and pocketbooks. And now where are all those big shot owners? Not in the game at all anymore. What about the Hall of Fame trainers? They're in Chester, PA sucking on the teet of slots money. And the few that have remained? On their knees in an unholy alliance with Dick Duchossois and Johnny Johnston to beg the state for slot machines. And how about all of the gallant champions themselves? They're worth about 2/3 as much as they once were. Be careful what you wish for fellas, you just might get it.

blah BLAH BLAH ..BOO HOO BOO HOO

WHAT WE HAVE HEERE IS ANOTHER WORLD SAVIOR,,THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT,,,,HIGHLY VALUED ,,,,,,NOT

Ray=Trainer who said "It's cruel to the horses,” Schnittker said of having to race multiple heats.

Ray=Trainer who raced Real Babe 2 heats despite the cruelty.

Ray=Trainer who can make whatever choice he see's fit in regards to his horse.

WE(fans)=Are entitled to our opinion that he speaks out both sides of his mouth.

WE(fans)=Entitled to see the races raced for the good of the sport without the negativity brought on by Ray.

WE(fans)=Don't want to hear Ray make a mockery of the conditions of the race and then race another animal 2 heats.

There is no discussion here. He don't wanna race the race, DONT ENTER. At the very least stand on his supposed principles of cruelty and not subject Real Babe to the torture.

JJ is on point guys IMO....He almost was "cruel" to the whole field had CMO won...Then 3 heats would have had to be raced for a couple of em... You dont want to go two heats find a different race period. If some positive steps arent taken to keep and attract fans the sport is doomed. Yes it starts with the little things... Just like keeping the horses on the track their 4 yr old...How nice would it have been to see SBSW challenge Artplaces 16 for 16 record as a 4 yr old? The sport and the fans have been robbed along time.. The industry needs to get together asap on these issues..

MHO...is this... I think the solution to the heat racing is what the Jugette did this year, winner of the 2nd heat is the winner..no 3rd heat at all, anybody that has raced a horse knows 3 heats at that level of racing is not good for the horse, 2 heats is not that big of a deal.. I don't want to see the horses going 2 heats week in and week out but no more then they do it nowadays is not that big of a deal...

I think it's you and Ray Schnittker who are failing to see the big picture. The industry where he makes a living is on life support.

This may be hard for some people to hear, but if you think we have a great gambling game and can get by on that in the world of casinos and online football props, you're kidding yourself.

We've tried for years to market harness racing as a gambling option. That's a failure. It needs to be marketed as the great SPORT it is. The gambling is just a bonus. What real gambler is going to bet into a $500 pool at the Red Mile anyway?

That means we have to look at what makes the SPORT great and how to promote it. I can remember the program at Sportsman's Park was called The Sportsman's Daily News and it really was like a newspaper. There were stories on the big races of the night and then an interesting feature that had great human or horse interest. Now you've got Tom Kelley's "Five for Five". Who is that even targeted at? You have to make the fan first and then the fan will gamble. Trying to entice the gambler is a losing game and that's been proven.

It used to be that in order to qualify for the State Fair final at Springfield, a horse had to race at one of the county fairs. Doing away with that requirement was a disaster. People loved seeing "a big horse from Chicago" roll into their fair and crushing a field with NO BETTING. But they might come up to the city and make a night of it and bet at Maywood or Sportsman's. Harness racing hasn't made any new fans in twenty-five years and the ones it has are slowly dying.

But by all means, worry about one of the four remaining heat races and how put out you are by not having a perfect Breeder's Crown prep conveniently located for your dumb ass.

Actually JJ, Im trying to not get into the BS topics here . The topics about Campbell , Schnitker , The Giss, Burke, Palone , etc, etc, etc. These topics and others like them are a sure fire way to get aggrivated arguing with people who have agendas . I dont want or need the aggrivation of it , so ill stay out of it .

Actually JJ, Im trying to not get into the BS topics here . The topics about Campbell , Schnitker , The Giss, Burke, Palone , etc, etc, etc. These topics and others like them are a sure fire way to get aggrivated arguing with people who have agendas . I dont want or need the aggrivation of it , so ill stay out of it .

JJ is on point guys IMO....He almost was "cruel" to the whole field had CMO won...Then 3 heats would have had to be raced for a couple of em... You dont want to go two heats find a different race period. If some positive steps arent taken to keep and attract fans the sport is doomed. Yes it starts with the little things... Just like keeping the horses on the track their 4 yr old...How nice would it have been to see SBSW challenge Artplaces 16 for 16 record as a 4 yr old? The sport and the fans have been robbed along time.. The industry needs to get together asap on these issues..

Excellent post. In this business , the fans and gamblers are treated like dirtIn the end, that will come back to bite those responsible.